Looking way ahead, Kruger said "building that family and that unity" will be important in the offseason. He suggested something has been built already.

"We have confidence we can go out there and play with anybody," he said. "It's important to finish strong. We're here driving."

Strong finishes have been scarce in Cleveland. In Chudzinski's previous tenure with the Browns, as offensive coordinator, they ended the 2008 season in a 1-8 freefall. His 2013 Browns are in a 1-7 skid.

All he has left this year is three games.

"What you do at the end of the season doesn't guarantee what you're going to do at the start of the next season," he said. "We're evolving, and we will continue to evolve."